Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“I’ll bring you out for an X-ray,” the doctor says. I’ve never, in the history of my time as an RN, seen a doctor do that, but of course he would today, so I don’t have another few minutes alone with Eric.
The thing is, I make decent money as a single RN without a family to take care of. Eric knows I would be able and willing to help him with anything, but the fact that he didn’t tell me says he didn’t want to take money from me, which kills me. Doesn’t he know I could give him all the money in the world and it would never repay him for everything he’s given me? Not just counting who he was to me when I was growing up, but who he’s been to me as an adult too.
I was devastated last year when everything went down with Malcolm. At the time, I couldn’t even grieve in private. We’d gone viral, no one online thinking about the person on the other end of the story, their lies, their think pieces, their jokes and cruelty. We were just names to them, not real people with real feelings. I’d been embarrassed, alone, crushed, and Eric hadn’t left my side.
And now, the easiest thing I can give him, I know he’d be reluctant to take.
I wish there was a way I could cover him on my insurance. I have excellent coverage through the hospital, and he’s family to me in all the ways that matter.
CHAPTER FIVE
Eric
“Would it be cheaper if I just gave you my foot instead?” I tease the medical assistant who is going over how much money I need to pay for services today. It’s so fucked up that they do it this way—don’t even let you out of the building without a huge payment, regardless of what’s wrong with you.
As I hand over my debit card, I feel Donovan’s gaze on me. He’s hardly turned away since I told him about my mess-up. Please don’t offer me the money, please don’t offer me the money, please don’t offer me the money.
She runs my card, and I try not to wince as she hands it back. But hey, at least Donovan didn’t have to jump in to cover his failure of a best friend. He’s been through enough in his life. The last thing I want him to have to worry about is me and my mistakes.
They have me all set up in a walking boot, and holy shit, those things are expensive too. It couldn’t have cost nearly that much to make. I’ll need to wear it for six to eight weeks, depending on how my ankle heals. I have to use crutches with it for the first couple of weeks, but then I can put a little weight on it. Outside of showering, I’m supposed to wear the stupid thing twenty-four seven, and I’m zero percent excited about it.
Not only that, but I still haven’t figured out how I’m going to work. Do they expect me to take six to eight weeks off? Would I be able to get short-term disability for something like that?
All those thoughts swim around in my head while they’re trying to talk to me. A bead of sweat rolls down my temple. Is it me, or is it hot in here?
I must miss something because Donovan says, “It’s fine. I’ll make sure he knows everything he’s supposed to do. I’ll be taking care of him.”
My head snaps up at that. “Huh?”
Donovan’s forehead wrinkles up like he can’t understand why I would question that because of course he’ll help as much as he can. That’s what we do. But really, it’s just a broken ankle. What will he need to do for me?
I take the forms the medical assistant hands over, then slide off the examination table. They already fit me for the crutches, which are leaning beside me. Donovan immediately steps over to me, grabbing them and handing them over while also taking the paperwork and prescription from me.
The crutches stab into my armpits uncomfortably, but I ignore it. “What do you want to do today?” I play it off like nothing is wrong as we make our way out of the building.
“You’re relaxing and elevating your foot is what you’re doing.”
“Oh my God. I’m fine.” But then I stumble on my crutches. These things aren’t as easy as they look.
“They take some getting used to. Stay here. I’ll get the car.” He doesn’t wait for me to respond before walking away. Oh yeah. He’s upset and worried. Donovan can sometimes pull away and shut down when he gets like that. In this situation, there’s no doubt in my mind that it comes from his concern for me. I hate having him worry about me that way.